27th Birthday

My Birthday card from Shendl.

It was my birthday on Sunday the 8th of June and to celebrate I decided to have a girls night out! Because I believe in putting in a little extra effort to make things more special, I decided to do a theme. I told friends that this was the dress code -


A few friends came over to my flat and we had a couple of sneaky drinks and naturally, a bit of a photo shoot!

I have the most amazing friends, new and old! I got absolutely spoiled rotten spoiled rotten by everyone and even though I really appreciated all my gorgeous gifts, what was even more special was spending my birthday with such amazing people! I love you Friends! 

After drinks, and love...

We got a taxi to Movida to meet up with some other friends and dance the night away! I've only ever been to Movida one other time but I thought the 'Moulin Rouge' style club was perfect for a night of fun with my girls! 

"I'm so Fancy"

You know you're not in Zim anymore when there's a grand piano in the Club! 

Later, the tables are moved and this area become the dance floor.

Juss, Sash, Me, Tish, Lee

Unfortunately, what happens on girls night, stays between us girls (there's good reason for that). But in summary - we danced, we laughed and we danced a little more. 

Last year I got out of hospital just before my birthday so I couldn't really celebrate it much. I did have a lovely time with my family and being my first birthday with my new lungs, I was very grateful! 

This birthday however, was evidence of just how 'normal' my life is now. Yes I still pop hand-fulls of pills and have to go for regular check-ups but there is nothing really that I can't do! I don't think it will ever stop amazing me how a surgical procedure can take you from death's door to having a crazy girls night out. I know I say this often but I really am grateful each and every day for all the things that my transplant has allowed me to do. 

I am living my dream and loving EVERY minute of it!

Thanks again to the friends that made it to party with me and to those who didn't but sent through lovely birthday messages! I love you all so much!! 

Fitspiration

Whilst I was stuck in my flat waiting for my transplant, my room-mate and friend - Justine, was busy getting FIT! I'd wake up hours after she had already gone for her morning run and on the weekends I'd be lazing in bed while she was off to set a new personal running record.

Not everyone has the motivation or dedication that Justine has and I wanted to know more about her fitness journey and what motivated her to keep it up.

#WhatTheFit??

What made you decide to get fit?

I was tired of being fat instead of phat, I knew that if I was ever going to be happy I was going to have to make some serious lifestyle changes.

What kept you motivated?

Buying my entry into the Two Oceans Half Marathon and telling my whole family and everyone I knew that I was going to be running 21kms!

What was one of your biggest challenges?

My biggest challenge still is weight, I think about it daily it's an obsession.  

What is your favourite part of working out?

I can't choose 1, my favourite parts of working out are when I can feel my muscles working and I start to break a sweat and then post workout where I feel like I am on cloud nine. 

What is your least favorite part of working out?

Being disrupted by someone or something when you are 'in the zone' 

What was your goal and has it changed? 

My goal was to lose weight.  Nope, not really I am still carrying about 15 -20kgs that I need to lose. Hopefully my will power will kick in again one day soon and I will be a lean mean weight loss machine again! 

What advice to you have for ME and anyone else that wants to start getting fit?

Set a goal, tell everyone about it (so that you're accountable) give your goal a time limit! 

What a transformation and an absolutely amazing person to inspire others to get fit! Justine's story is undeniable evidence that perseverance is key to reaching any goal. 

To date Justine has lost 50kgs and is still going! It didn't happen over night or by doing some crazy diet that promises instant weight loss. It took hard work and a lot of time but the results speak for themselves! #Fitspiration

                                                         Check out her blog -

                                                      JustineJoyIt

Day 1

I did put a shirt on before hitting the gym.

My first day at gym was meant to be on Monday but I managed to find an excuse not to go! Yesterday I had cocktails with a friend so I couldn't possibly make time for gym! Today however, I was all out of excuses so off I went!

The hardest part of any routine is getting started. Once you get up and start the rest is all a lot easier and gradually just becomes second nature. This is what I'm hoping for, anyway!

My biggest problem at gym is that I'm impatient!  I want to be able to run 5kms on the treadmill and do one armed push ups NOW. Having gone through all that I have, my pain tolerance is probably a little higher than most which means that when I start to get sore, I keep going.

This may sound like an advantage but it's really not! Today I did just short of an hour at the gym and I know that tomorrow I am going to regret it!










One of my favorite things about working out is getting to listen to awesome music. I have a million gym playlists and they really do get me excited to exercise!

The only disadvantage of listening to music that you're really into is that there is a chance that you start to move 'with the music'. When a "gangster" song comes up on my playlist, it is EXTREMELY difficult not to walk with a little swag!!

This was my playlist today - 

My top tune for today's workout was this - 

Reflection

I know I celebrated my Lungaversary a while a go but my life didn't actually start until I got out of hospital 3 months later. I wish it was as simple as "Right, there we go, we've given you new lungs, go forth and live" however, if you have read my transplant story then you will know that, that wasn't the case!

A year ago today, I had fought for months in hospital to beat the odds to survive and finally go HOME! During the 3 months in hospital after my transplant, the doctors gave me no indication of how much longer I would have to stay. My case was very unique and I had to go through a lot of different procedures, none of which seemed to be working. The doctors tried to keep my spirits high without giving me false hope that I would be able to go home anytime soon. Unfortunately, I am a pretty smart girl and I knew that I would be stuck in hospital for some time, so to ensure that I wasn't disappointed I stopped hoping all together.

This isn't the same as giving up. I knew I would get out of hospital at some stage but I had been disappointed so many times with 'good results' that in the end, no matter how 'good' things were looking, at the back of my mind I prepared myself for the worst...and I knew I would not be discharged when planned.

However, with my birthday coming up on the 8th of June I told the doctors that no matter what condition I was in, I WOULD be going home. At that stage I think they were equally as keen to get rid of me, even if I had to take all the big machines that I was on, with me.

4 days before my birthday I was finally well enough to go home. My punctured lungs had healed and although I was still very sick and throwing up non stop the doctors were confident that a bit of home time would sort the rest of my problems out. As soon as I got home I stopped throwing up and my health in general improved at a rapid pace!

Driving home from the hospital was very emotional. I had been home a few weeks after my transplant, just for the weekend and then admitted back into hospital, so it wasn't the first time out with my new lungs. However, it was just as special and as scary as the first drive. I was overwhelmingly excited but also extremely anxious that something would set me back and I would have to return to the hospital. Thankfully I have had a clean bill of health and I have not been admitted since.

Treatment before my transplant included admissions into hospital every 3 months for 2 weeks. I had done this routine since I was 13 and of course later when I was very ill, I spent more than half of my life in a hospital bed. To think that I have not been in hospital for a year is absolutely incredible!!! I dread the day that I have to go back, for any sort of procedure!

For now though, everything looks good and there are no words for how happy I am to be LIVING.

#OperationGetFit

So as you know, I recently reached my (minimum) Goal Weight of 50kgs, making #OperationGetFat a fat success! Now it's onto the next goal - #OperationGetFit. I'm hoping this challenge won't take me as long or be as difficult but for someone who has never done sports it certainly isn't going to be easy!

I started gym a while ago but then when I got my job, my gyming fell away as I didn't want to do too much all at once. Getting FAT was the priority which means that I have to cook and eat a lot. With a full time job, preparing 6 meals a day and getting to the gym just seemed a little overwhelming! Then I went on holiday so of course you can't possibly work out when your on holiday right? Now I am back to unemployment (temporarily) so there is absolutely no excuse not to hit the gym! 

My goal is to take part in the Transplant Games which will be in Argentina next year but first I need to qualify in the National Games in October! Basically I need to go from needing help opening a jam jar to being able to lift a tractor tire with one arm, in 4 months. Doable??

I am in talks with Virgin Active to see if they can help me out with a personal trainer. Once I know what they are willing to help with then I will be looking for sponsors to help me pay for my trainer - If anyone has any ideas.... please shout!

There a number of sports that recipients can participate in so hopefully I will qualify in at least one or two. At this stage I think the 'walking' event may be strong suit!

Of course I will be blogging about my fitness journey and perhaps my posts will encourage you to get up and GET FIT too!! I may even throw in a before and after pic, so stayed tuned!!

Holiday

Last month, I resigned from my job and took off to Zimbabwe for just over a month!
Now before you say 'Jeesh Fawn, that's a bit risky, quitting your job for a holiday?" let me reassure you that it was definitely worth it! Plus I got back to Joburg this week and have already been offered a job!

I know, more than most people, how short life really is! This doesn't mean you should be reckless and completely carefree with your decision making but it does mean that sometimes you just have to do what feels right and trust that everything will work itself out!

The Schedule:

25/04 - Arrive in Zim, 1st Hens party (Tin Roof)

26/04 - Home, Family Dinner

27/04 - 1st Kitchen Tea

29/04 - Coffee & catch-up with friends

30/04 - Hair/make-up trials, Birthday Braai + Party (Tin Roof)

2/05 - Wedding Rehearsal

3/05 - Michael & Sara's wedding

7/05 - Party (Tin Roof)

9/05 - Girls Dinner, Party (Tin Roof)

11/05 - Mother's day brunch

16/05 - 2nd Kitchen Tea & Hens party (Tin Roof)

20/05 - Nails done with bridal party

22/05 - Leave for Vic Falls

23/05 - Saw the Falls, Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi

24/05 - Siana & Kevin's wedding

25/05 - Lunch at Vic Falls Boat Club, Final Dinner

25/05 - Back to Harare

26/05 - Back to Joburg

So as you can see it was a rather eventful trip! Tin Roof is Harare's local drinking hole, it's a great place to bump into old friend's but not a great place to be if you want a quiet night out!
There were obviously more coffee's with friends, lunches, dinners etc but you get the idea! I'm going to let the photo's do the talking from here, even though they NEVER do the real life view any justice! 

Peta, Lisa (Sister), Sara, Me, Shendl (Maid of Honour), Moira missing.

My beautiful Barbill

Tea with Snoek and Barbill

Chilling with Angel

Hair Trial 

Bright and Beautiful

Love is in the air

The Bride and Groom

Gorgeous Setting.

Celebrating Mother's Day

Katie, Meg, Me, Siana & Hele.

Less civilized Hen's party

Mani & Pedi for the wedding

My first time seeing Vic Falls!!

Rainbows everywhere! 

Incredible!

Gin & Tonic - Vital part of my anti malaria protection programme! 

Bridal party

The Bride and Groom

Gorgeous! 

Back to Joburg! 

Such an amazing holiday! This time last year I would still be in hospital, recovering from the punctured lungs incident. It's absolutely incredible that I am able to do the all things that I am doing. I dreamed of having a 'normal' life, being able to go to the shops and cook my own dinner, but travelling to Vic Falls and being able to do everything that I am doing, really as exceeded my dreams! 

Moral of the story - AIM HIGHER, DREAM BIGGER, GO FURTHER!